A billion people, collectively can’t be wrong…. adoption on social sharing platforms shows few signs of slowing.
Friends love to share with friends….
Once strangers, my twitter *friends* and I share many meaningful learning experiences. We learn about each other, and we learn by reading and digesting the content generated by — or curated by those we respect most.
Enter the physicians office…. the old magazines … the *best* doctor photos on the wall, and the staff set behind a glass window. Following a long wait, you have your 5-7 minutes with your chosen physician. Will they engage in a caring meaningful manner … or rush through, head down in the computer to be sure they can code a level 4 visit? Will they cater their responses to your specific values and needs? Do they understand your values, needs, job, family obligations, etc…? Perhaps they do, but perhaps they don’t. Either way, they should — because it matters.
Every now and then I am reminded why I enjoy sharing and learning with my online *friends*…. it’s another one of those light bulb moments… when I witness a physician going out of his/her way to make sure that their patients are treated as people, not a disease —- and in a manner that respects that person and their social needs.
Enter Dr. Steve Eisenberg. An Oncologist from California who utilizes his talents to let his patients forget for a few precious moments that they are potentially being treated for a lethal diagnosis.
Steve was recognized on the Today show, ummm — today.… well worth a look…. and special enough to deserve recognition.
What will you do to change healthcare tomorrow?
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Some of us are collectively doing it differently because we believe in doing it differently. And we believe healthcare can be social and personal and powerful and even a spiritually moving process. We believe each of us brings a unique perspective and by bringing our HUMANITY we can and will reach in and continue to keep healthcare and those who provide and receive alive (from within and without).
That means, sometimes we disagree. Sometimes it can be messy. And sometimes – even with a “level 4 code” there may be emotions and set backs, and frustrations and joys and celebrations and MEANING and loss of it. And it is all OK. Awareness and authenticity is what truly matters as long as we are connecting with EACH OTHER.
Thank you for examining what matters. I’m so grateful.
x
Melissa
Spent some time with a gynecologist friend this weekend. She was, like, after I get off work, the last thing I want to do is interact with patients! I don’t know what kind of tipping point is required to see that turn around.
The tipping point is when documentation includes patient stories -some written by patients (patient-entered data). When “social history” in the traditional sense is done away with, transformed into values, preferences and required components of ANY level visit. When Joe’s friend is working with (alongside) patients in new ways WHILE she is at work.
What will it take?